Make a Difference

Funding to raise awareness of domestic violence in the local Chinese-speaking community

Michael Sukkar, Federal Member for Deakin, today announced that the Centre for Holistic Health in Deakin has been granted $100,000 by the Federal Coalition Government to provide support to local Chinese‑speaking individuals and families who are at risk of domestic violence.

Mr Sukkar said the Facilitating Responsible and Non-stigmatising Attitudes and Practices towards Domestic Violence in the Chinese Community project will work with local Chinese-speaking individuals and families in the Boroondara, Knox, Manningham, Maroondah, Monash and Whitehorse areas.

“Over the next two years, this local project adopts a practical three-level step care model integrating prevention, early intervention and community capacity building to promote a culturally-relevant understanding of domestic violence,” Mr Sukkar said.

“These steps are:

Raising awareness of the causes of domestic violence, cultural values and myths and obstacles to seeking services.

Supporting service access by drawing on community partnerships, providing initial assessment, referrals and short-term case management.

“Through this targeted project, the Centre for Holistic Health will help local Chinese-speaking individuals and families experiencing or at risk of domestic violence to receive timely support and intervention.

The funding received is part of the Federal Coalition Government’s Cultural and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Communities Leading Prevention grants program, which aims to reduce violence against women and their children CALD communities. The Centre for Holistic Health is one of 18 recipients of this grant nationwide, collectively totalling $1.67 million nationwide from 2017-18 to 2018-19.